New
schedule for Panchayat pollCHANDIGARH,
Feb 23  The Haryana State Election Commissioner, Mr
T.D. Jogpal, today announced a new schedule for elections
to the Panchayats and local bodies. The ruling BJP-INLD
Government, which was keen on holding these elections
after the Assembly poll had to fight a protracted legal
battle in order to achieve this.

Repoll
at five booths todayPANCHKULA,
Feb 23  On the recommendation of the election
observer, Mr P.D. Thomas, the Election Commission of
India, today ordered repoll at five booths (190, 191,
194, 195 and 285) at the polling station in Government
High School, Sector 17, here.

Haryana
staff panels appointment contestedCHANDIGARH,
Feb 23  The appointment of Chairman of the Haryana
Staff Selection Commission, Rao Man Singh, and six
members of the commission was challenged in the Punjab
and Haryana High Court by Mr Krishan Kumar Saini, an
advocate of Chandigarh, through a writ petition.

Fake
degree racket case hanging fireROHTAK,
Feb 23  The casual attitude being
adopted by the Maharshi Dayanand University
administration dealing with the fake degree racket case
is sending wrong signals among the university staff and
the people in general.

Bogus
firm dupes people of Rs 30 lakhPANIPAT,
Feb 23  Hundreds of people in Samalkha town and
adjoining areas have reportedly been duped by a private
firm with a promise to supply domestic articles on
cheaper rates within 21 days after receiving advance
deposits. It is estimated that around Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh
has been collected by the owners of the firm as advance
amount. They are reported to have fled on Monday night
from Samalkha.

FIR
registered against JindalHISAR,
Feb 23  The city police today registered a case of
attempted murder against the local industrialist and
Congress candidate, Mr Om Prakash Jindal. A case of
assault on government employee and disruption of the
electoral process was registered against him yesterday,
but Section 307, IPC, was added to it today only.

All
set for Feb 25 countingAMBALA,
Feb 23  The arrangements for counting of votes have
been completed at various places for the five assembly
segments of Ambala cantonment, Naggal, Ambala city,
Mullana and Nariangarh.

Congressmen
block highway in protestROHTAK,
Feb 23  A large number of Congress activists and
supporters blocked the National Highway No 10 at
Bahadurgarh, about 40 km from here today, in protest
against the police action in connection with poll
violence and firing yesterday.

Holiday
today in Meham, KalkaCHANDIGARH,
Feb 23  The Haryana Government has declared a
holiday on February 24 in the offices and institutions
within the meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable
Instruments Act, 1881, in the areas falling in the limits
of Kalka, Hassangarh, Meham, Safidon, Taoru, Tosham and
Mahendergarh constituencies in view of repolling in 23
polling stations in seven Vidhan Sabha constituency.

Sonepat civic body poll on April 2SONEPAT,
Feb 23  Elections to the 31-member Municipal
Corporation of Sonepat will be held on April 2 and a
notification to this effect has already been issued by
the Haryana State Election Commissioner.

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23
 The Haryana State Election Commissioner, Mr T.D.
Jogpal, today announced a new schedule for elections to
the Panchayats and local bodies. The ruling BJP-INLD
Government, which was keen on holding these elections
after the Assembly poll had to fight a protracted legal
battle in order to achieve this.

Mr Jogpal said today
that the panchayat elections would be held in three
phases. In the first phase of election, polling in 27
blocks in six districts would be held on March 19. In the
second phase, polling in 52 blocks in 12 districts would
take place on March 19. Polling in the third phase in the
remaining 35 blocks in nine districts would be held on
March 26.

Mr Jogpal also said that
for elections to all panchayati raj institutions, the
nominations in all blocks of the state would be filed
from February 26 to 28. Scrutiny of nominations would be
made on March 1. The last date for withdrawal of
nomination papers has been fixed for March 6.

The counting of votes
for elections to panches and sarpanches of gram
panchayats would be done immediately after the close of
voting.

However, counting of
votes for elections to the members of panchayat samitis
and zila parishads in respect of Ambala, Panchkula,
Panipat, Rohtak and Jhajjar districts would be done on
March 13. For Kurukshetra, Narnaul and Rewari districts,
the counting of votes would be on March 20 and for the
remaining districts of Bhiwani, Faridabad, Fatehabad,
Gurgaon, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal, Karnal, Sirsa, Sonepat and
Yamunanagar it would be on March 27.

Mr Jogpal also stated
that the limit of expenditure for panchayat elections had
been enhanced from Rs 2000 to Rs 3000 in the case of
panches, from Rs 5000 to Rs 8000 in the case of
sarpanches, from Rs 20,000 to Rs 30,000 in the case of
members of panchayat samitis and from Rs 50,000 to Rs
75,000 in the case of members of zila parishads.

Elections to 316 members
of 19 zila parishads, 2426 members of 114 panchayat
samitis, and 6017 sarpanches and 54,346 panches of 6017
gram panchayats would be held during the general
panchayat elections.

More than 16,000 polling
stations have been notified by the Deputy Commissioners
in the state for the conduct of these elections for which
nearly 80,000 employees would be deployed. Besides this,
a sufficient number of police officers, police personnel
and also personnel from the Haryana Armed Police and
other Central police forces would be deployed to ensure a
free and fair poll and provide security.

Over 86 lakh rural
voters will exercise their right of franchise in these
panchayat elections.

The nomination papers
for panches and sarpanches will be filed and received
this time at the gram panchayat headquarters and
elections to the members of panchayat samitis at the
panchayat samiti headquarters. The papers for the members
of zila parishads would, however, be filed at the
district headquarters.

The Deputy Commissioner
is the Returning Officer for elections to the members of
zila parishads. HCS officers posted in districts have
been appointed as Returning Officers for elections to the
members of panchayat samitis. However, in cases where
sufficient number of HCS officers are not available other
officers such as DROs, tehsildars, DFSCs, DETCs have been
appointed as Returning Officers for panchayat samitis.

PANCHKULA, Feb 23 
On the recommendation of the election observer, Mr P.D.
Thomas, the Election Commission of India, today ordered
repoll at five booths (190, 191, 194, 195 and 285) at the
polling station in Government High School, Sector 17,
here.

The repoll at the five
booths having an electorate of about 5,600 will be held
from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. tomorrow.

The administrative
machinery geared up in the afternoon to inform the voters
through munadi in the rural and urban areas.

The loss of time
following the suspension of polling for over three hours
owing to a conflict between workers of various political
parties was reportedly the main consideration for a
repoll.

Section 144 of the CrPC
will be in force tomorrow in Rajiv Colony, Indira Colony,
Sector 17 and on the dividing roads of Sectors 16 and 17.
Private vehicles without authorisation shall not be
allowed to ply within the restricted areas near the
polling station.

The District Magistrate
has banned the opening of the liquor shops close to the
polling station. The police has taken the necessary steps
to ensure that the repolling goes peacefully.

About 320 electronic
voting machines (EVMs) are now under the security of the
Central Industrial Security Force (CISF). Sources reveal
that more than 20 personnel are guarding the auditorium
in BEL Colony where the EVMs have been kept after
yesterday's polling.

An estimated 1,19,140 of
a total 2,00,992 voters cast their vote in the
constituency. In the Kalka assembly constituency 66,617
male and 52,337 female voters exercised their franchise
at 289 polling booths.

The Congress candidate,
Mr Chander Mohan, hailed the decision of the Election
Commission for a repoll in the area, said Mr Ravider
Rawal, spokesperson of the Congress.

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23
 The appointment of Chairman of the Haryana Staff
Selection Commission, Rao Man Singh, and six members of
the commission was challenged in the Punjab and Haryana
High Court by Mr Krishan Kumar Saini, an advocate of
Chandigarh, through a writ petition.

A Division Bench
comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Iqbal
Singh issued notice of motion to the state of Haryana,
the Chairman and members of the commission and others for
April 18.

The Chairman and members
of the commission were appointed for three years by the
government vide the impugned notification of January 1,
after the writ petition filed by earlier Chairman, Mr
Manmohan Singh, was dismissed by it in a Judgement in
December 23.

The main contention of
the petitioner was that the appointments had been made by
a pick-and-choose policy without following the recognised
"mode of recruitment", meant for public offices
and that it was contrary to the directions given by the
High Court in Manmohan Singh Chaudhary's case.

The Division Bench in
the above mentioned case had observed inter alia that
even though the Chairman and members of the commission
could not be treated as civil servants in strict sense,
there could not be any doubt that the posts which they
held were public posts and that it was imperative for the
state government to lay down the qualification and
conditions of eligibility and adopt a mode that was
consistent with the concept of fairness in public
interest.

The petitioner submitted
that contrary to the court's directions the appointment
has been made without advertisement or by constituting a
collegium.

ROHTAK, Feb 23 
The casual attitude being adopted by the
Maharshi Dayanand University administration dealing with
the fake degree racket case is sending wrong signals
among the university staff and the people in general.

The Tribune exposed the
scandal on February 19.

Strangely, nothing
concrete has reportedly been done so far by the
administration dealing with such sensitive case. Although
the administration had constituted a three-member
committee to investigate into the matter and had asked it
to submit its report by February 23, it served no purpose
as one member of the committee was busy in election duty
and the rest did not have a clear idea of the task before
them. The examination wing of the university had
investigated the matter on February 16 and detected 11
cases of forgery. It is learnt the Registrar also
conducted an inquiry into the matter and submitted a
detailed report to the Vice-Chancellor on February 16,
the same day when the matter was brought to his notice by
the Superintendent concerned. The administration it is
alleged, has no clear idea as to how to proceed with the
investigation. Some officials alleged the Vice-Chancellor
intended to hush up the case till the completion of his
tenure on February 25. They claimed that the first case
of forgery was detected on February 4 but no action had
been taken so far.

Speaking on condition of
anonymity, they wondered why an FIR had not been
registered so far against the erring employees in this
case amounting to a criminal offence. They questioned why
no employee had been suspended so far even when prima
facie evidence had been found against some employees?
They, also asked why a notification had not been issued
in newspapers regarding cancellation of the fake degrees?
According to university sources, the Registrar, in his
report, had recommended registration of an FIR against
certain employees who were found involved in the racket.
He had reportedly recommended that three erring employees
should be suspended without holding any formal inquiry as
prima facie evidence was found against them.

It is learnt the
Registrar had directed the examination wing to scrutinise
the result sheets of all examinations. He had also
suggested that the entire examination system of the
university needed a thorough revamping. But according to
sources, all his suggestions were ignored.

The Vice-Chancellor
could not be contacted despite several attempts. However,
sources close to him claimed that stringent action would
be taken against the erring employees after the inquiry
committee report and no employee and official would be
spared in this connection.

PANIPAT, Feb 23 
Hundreds of people in Samalkha town and adjoining areas
have reportedly been duped by a private firm with a
promise to supply domestic articles on cheaper rates
within 21 days after receiving advance deposits. It is
estimated that around Rs 25 to Rs 30 lakh has been
collected by the owners of the firm as advance amount.
They are reported to have fled on Monday night from
Samalkha.

According to information
available, a shop-cum-office was opened by some South
Indians at Jorasi road in the town in November, 1999.
They promised to provide domestic articles at 40 per cent
cheaper rates than the market price on getting advance
deposits.

When some of the
depositors reached their office on Tuesday morning, they
found the shop and the house where they used to live
locked. Hundreds of people gathered in front of the shop.
The victims of the fraud have lodged a complaint in
Samalkha police station.

Interestingly, on the
complaint of some people who were suspecting foul play by
this firm, the shop-cum-office was raided by the police
and the owners of the firm were taken into custody for
investigation. But after intervention by a labour leader
and a complaint in the court by one of the owners,
Amritalingam, against the police for illegal confinement,
they were released after three days on December 11, 1999.

HISAR, Feb 23  The
city police today registered a case of attempted murder
against the local industrialist and Congress candidate,
Mr Om Prakash Jindal. A case of assault on government
employee and disruption of the electoral process was
registered against him yesterday, but Section 307, IPC,
was added to it today only.

An FIR against Mr Jindal
was registered on a complaint lodged by Mr Subash Chander
Mehta, Presiding Officer, Polling Booth Number 103,
located at the Kabir Chowk in Rampura Mohalla. Mr Mehta
alleged that Mr Jindal tried to disrupt the polling and
also misbehaved with the staff.

Mr Jindal has denied the
charges and said the case had been fabricated against
him. He alleged that the Presiding Officer was not
performing his duties in impartial manner.

Meanwhile, two vehicles
belonging to Mr Jindal and his supporters were stoned,
and some of his supporters were injured.

AMBALA, Feb 23 
The arrangements for counting of votes have been
completed at various places for the five assembly
segments of Ambala cantonment, Naggal, Ambala city,
Mullana and Nariangarh.

The Ambala city assembly
seat where electronic machines (EVMs) were used for the
first time, counting will take place at the womens
polytechnic. While the counting of votes for Ambala
cantonment seat will take place at Arya College, Ambala
cantonment, the counting of votes for Naggal assembly
segment will take place GMN College, Ambala cantonment.

For Mullana assembly
seat, the counting of votes will take place at S.D.
College, Ambala cantonment, and the counting of votes for
the Naraingarh seat will take place at community centre,
Naraingarh, a release said.

Deputy Commissioner of
Ambala Ram Nivas said that in the Nariangarh
constituency, out of a total of 1,09,925 voters, 83,934
voters exercised their franchise, which include 46,102
men and 37,832 women. In Mullana seat, out of total of
1,21,308 voters, 87,060 exercised their franchise, which
include 47,220 men and 39840 women. In the Ambala
cantonment seat, out of total of 87,616 voters, 55,182
voters cast their votes which include 29,634 men and
25,548 women. In Ambala city where EVMs were used, out of
a total of 1,15,257 voters 69,884 voters cast their votes
which include 37,384 men and 32,500 women. In Naggal
assembly seat, out of a total of 1,20,869 voters, 51,448
voters exercised their franchise,which include 51,448 men
and 43,235 women.

He said that the
counting of votes for the assembly seats will start at 8
a.m. on February 25 at the respective counting centres.

ROHTAK, Feb 23  A
large number of Congress activists and supporters blocked
the National Highway No 10 at Bahadurgarh, about 40 km
from here today, in protest against the police action in
connection with poll violence and firing
yesterday.

The blockade, which
continued for about three hours, was lifted after
intervention by the Inspector-General of
Police, Rohtak range.

The protesters alleged
that the police had booked a false case against the
Congress candidate, Mr Ramesh Dalal and had been
detaining him illegally. They also alleged that Mr Naresh
Sharma, congress candidate from the Badli constituency,
was also rounded up by police. He was leading the
dharna and blockade today.

The police, however,
"denied" that any of the Congress candidate had
been arrested. A case of attempt to murder had been
registered against Mr Dalal, who is the Congress nominee
from the Bahadurgarh seat, in these Assembly elections.
But the Congress workers calmed that the case against Mr
Dalal has been fabricated. A police official said that
the case had been registered against not only Mr Dalal
but also against an INLD candidate, Mr Nafe Singh, in
connection with firing.

Meanwhile, the Haryana
Congress President, Mr Bhupinder Singh Hooda, has
condemned the police action. Asking the Governor to
intervene, Mr Hooda said that it was a fabricated case
and an example of highhandedness of Mr Om
Prakash Chautala.

ROHTAK, Feb 23 
The police has registered a case against 25 persons in
Meham subdivision of this district on charges of creating
disturbance and intimidating the employees on election
duty during polling yesterday.

According to police
sources, the accused persons forcibly entered Booth
Number 152 located at Madina village 15 km from here, and
disrupted the polling in an attempt to
"capture" the booth. They also allegedly
threatened the poll officials on duty. The complaint has
been filed by Mr Azad Singh, the Presiding Officer.

Meanwhile, the police
yesterday registered a case against four persons of
Chamarian village who assaulted a former sarpanch, Mr
Umed Singh, of the village. He was attacked by Mahender,
Kuldeep, Nanhe and Bhola. A case under Sections 323, 324,
505, 307 and 188/34 of the IPC has been registered
against them.

In another incident, a
country made revolver and 23 cartridges were recovered
from three youths near Sampla, yesterday. They were going
in a jeep towards Hisar when they were arrested by the
police.

CHANDIGARH, Feb 23
 The Haryana Government has declared a holiday on
February 24 in the offices and institutions within the
meaning of Section 25 of the Negotiable Instruments Act,
1881, in the areas falling in the limits of Kalka,
Hassangarh, Meham, Safidon, Taoru, Tosham and
Mahendergarh constituencies in view of repolling in 23
polling stations in seven Vidhan Sabha constituency.

The repolling in
Panchkula in the Kalka constituency will be held in
polling station numbers 190, 191, 194, 195 and 285 in
Government Senior Secondary School, Sector-17, Panchkula.
Repolling in Gandra village in the Hassangarh
constituency at polling station No. 87 will be in
Government High School, in Madina Korssan in the Meham
constituency at polling station No. 152 in Government
Primary School, near ITI.

Similarly, in Chhapar in
the Safidon constituency it will be at polling station
No. 59 in Government Middle School. It will be held in
Taoru village in the Taoru constituency at polling
station Nos. 46, 55, 56 in Government Sr. Secondary
School, polling station No. 49 in Government Girls High
School, 52 to 54 in Chandravati High School and in
Shikarpur village in the same constituency at polling
station No. 61 in Government Primary School. In Meeran
village in the Tosham constituency repolling will be held
at polling station No. 5 in Government High School. The
repolling in Riwasa and Mundiya Khera in the Mahendergarh
constituency will be at polling station No. 45, 46 at
Government Middle School, polling station No. 47 in
Panchayat Garh, 191 and 193 in Government Primary School
and 192 in Harijan chopal.

SONEPAT, Feb 23 
Elections to the 31-member Municipal Corporation of
Sonepat will be held on April 2 and a notification to
this effect has already been issued by the Haryana State
Election Commissioner.

According to official
sources, nomination papers will be accepted between March
2 and 6. Scrutiny will take place on March 7 and the
nominations could be withdrawn up to March 13.

However, any revisions
against the decision of the Returning Officer can be
filed before the Deputy Commissioner between March 8 and
10 and the Deputy Commissioner will decide the petitions
on March 11.

Spread over an area of
645 sq. yards, the building has been constructed at a
cost of Rs 35 lakh having all modern facilities.

He said the matter of
abolition of doubles sales tax on the labour construction
societies was under active review of the government and
they would be given relief soon. There was a proposal to
construct a cooperative bhavan so that all cooperators
institutes could be brought under one roof. Mr Goyal
asked the cooperatives to follow the example of Gujarat
and strengthen the cooperative movement in the state.

Mr Krishna Mohan,
Registrar, Cooperative Societies, Haryana said a
committee had been constituted under the chairmanship of
the Financial Commissioner Cooperation, for updating and
amending the bylaws of the Cooperative Societies Act
according to the needs of the time. He added that with
the incentives given to the labour construction
societies, they had become very active and many of them
were now out of red.

Mr Mewa Singh Pattar,
Managing Director, Haryana State Cooperative Labour and
Construction Federation, disclosed that the construction
work of the societies had touched the Rs 60 crore mark
annually as against Rs 66 lakh when the federation was
formed. He suggested that to improve the performance of
the societies their committees in the districts should be
revived.